Wednesday, February 15, 2012

GENDER,AGE AND MARRIAGE, A DOUBLE STANDARD!!!!!!!!!

It is very obvious that there is so much double standard in society today and men and women alike are victims of the double standard. A certain gender has to do one thing while the other is exempt and vice versa. Who is responsible for these double standards, the finger will always point to society but I think it starts with each individual. You cannot keep blaming society for your own problems when you can actually fix them or at least make a difference to your own circumstance. There are a lot of them in society so the blogpost will come in parts.

1.Once past the age of twenty five, one is expected to be done with college and embarking on a rewarding career and also to embark on the MR or MRS degree with a significant other. The MRS degree seems to be the one that everyone looks forward to as in the Nigerian culture all those old aunties will see you at gatherings and start asking. Here is a typical conversation that will ensue between one of those aunties and a young girl that is past 25 or past 30

AUNTY: How are you dear, I heard you are doing your masters now

YOUNG LADY: Yes I am, I am graduating in the summer”AUNTY: Oh really, that’s nice oh, so when are we wearing your aso ebi, when are you introducing us to the man.

YOUNG LADY: Aunty which man?

AUNTY: Do not pretend as if you don’t know what I am talking about, Julia got married last year, and Priscilla is getting married in August, so when is your wedding?

YOUNG LADY: Oh that, (with the little fake laugh) We are praying oh.

AUNTY: What type of prayer, please be quick about it, how old are you now? 26? 27?

YOUNG LADY:I am 29.

AUNTY: Oh 29, Bring him home quick so you can start having children, you know once you turn 30 , the child bearing…..

By this time the auntie’s advice has already been tuned out. Acquire Selective hearing if you can. Imagine if it was a guy the aunty was talking to, she would not even come close to the marriage thing, this would be a typical conversation.

AUNTY: My boy, see how much you have grown. You are looking so handsome

YOUNG MAN: (Smiling) I know, thank you

AUNTY: So what are you up to these days, your mom said you are at Stanford, you are currently doing your Masters.

YOUNG MAN: Yes ma. I am also an Intern at Microsoft

AUNTY: Oh, waoh, that is very impressive, keep it up. You know nowadays your education will land you a good job, and seeing Stanford on that resume ( doing the little dance) that is guaranteed entry, keep it up my boy, next thing now we need to see your new car and house, don’t forget to invite me to the housewarming oh…..

Nonsense. Can you see what I am talking about?, the lady didn’t even mention the “F” word. Yes I said it, the F word, and take your mind out of the gutter. I meant Female. She didn’t even ask him if he had a girlfriend or if he was getting serious with anyone. Men are exempt because they are believed to be providers, they are supposed to develop their lives, have fun and date as many women as they please because their penile expiration date is much further than that of a female.The “agbaya” aunty did not even encourage the girl to have a career. This is my own opinion and I could be wrong, times have changed, this is post World War 1 were women and children were at home cooking, cleaning and sewing, women can vote, women go to school and they can also get jobs. We should be treated equally with men. I believe that even at twenty six or twenty seven you can date, travel and enjoy life,

Marriage is not always the ultimate thing even though society makes it so. The nuns and monks who have dedicated their service to God and have chosen not to marry are not lesser humans in that thinking, it is a personal choice. I am tired of my female friends feeling pressured because of age to get married, and then they marry and then marry the wrong person. Marry because you want to be happy, marry because you are in love with that person and you complement the person not complete the person (some people get the concept mixed up, pretty bad thinking if I must say, because if you are half of a person and the other half chooses to walk away, you are back to square one). All eligible single ladies that cannot handle too much talk about marriage at family gatherings or parties should buy earphones or develop selective hearing. I have said my own oh!!!!!!!!!

in fact eh ! mschewwwi think we have it worst up north (esp. Jos girls) the mothers aunties, uncles even dogs tend to bark more at you if you are not married early, they see it as a shame.From ur point of view, i agree its an individual thing not society again - too many crabs to contend with.

@ilola, that's something the heart tells the brain, Sarah conceived at 90, this is 2012, with all the fertility drugs out there women can conceive oh.@Bangis Affairs yes oh, we individuals need to change our mindset.